A Political Misstep? Isabel Díaz Ayuso's Risky Bet on Donald Trump

Spain - Ekhbary News Agency

A Political Misstep? Isabel Díaz Ayuso's Risky Bet on Donald Trump

The President of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, has made a political move that has sparked intense debate and raised more than a few eyebrows. Following a path some compare to international figures like Gianni Infantino and María Corina Machado, Ayuso recently awarded an international medal to Donald Trump. This gesture, made during the inaugural gala of the Hispanic Prosperity event at Mar-a-Lago, where Trump in turn honored Javier Milei with the Economic Freedom Award, places the Madrid leader at the center of a controversial transatlantic alliance.

The truth, potentially uncomfortable for certain sectors of the Spanish right, is that the perceived closeness to the former US President may not be reciprocated. While Trump seems to view Javier Milei as a genuine idol, Ayuso's figure, and that of Madrid, are unlikely to resonate with the same intensity in the billionaire's orbit. This asymmetry raises a fundamental question: is this a calculated strategy to ascend in national politics, or a misreading of international dynamics and the decline of Trumpian influence?

Ayuso's political ambition is undeniable. If her praises for Trump persist and, in a hypothetical future, she manages to unseat Alberto Núñez Feijóo to run for the presidency of the Spanish government, it is plausible that her standing would rise in the 'Trumpian love ranking.' However, the crucial question is whether such an ascent would represent an advantage or a colossal strategic error. From the perspective of her own aspirations, wrapping herself in the 'orange flag' at this moment could be counterproductive for a European politician.

The current political reality indicates that Donald Trump, as an ally of a European leader, has become a form of electoral poison. This assertion is not unfounded; it is supported by the growing defection of his own allies in the United States. The unconditional loyalty that once characterized Republicans in Congress has begun to fracture. Many of them, who previously feared losing their seats if they weren't 100% loyal to Trump, now perceive that loyalty is precisely the price of defeat.

Concrete examples break historical precedents. Recently, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted to annul Trump's tariffs on Canada, with six Republicans joining Democrats in favor. On the same day, an annual meeting of the 50 state governors, held every year since 1908, was canceled after Trump attempted to exclude Democratic governors and Republicans refused to participate without them. These incidents are indicative of an internal rebellion that could accelerate his inevitable political and personal decline.

Recent polls in the US reveal that almost 70% of the electorate holds an unfavorable view of Trump. Regional elections have been disastrous for the Republican Party, and projections for the November congressional elections point to a possible transfer of control of both chambers to the Democrats. Faced with this panorama, several Republican congressmen have already announced their retirement from politics, while those who remain in office face an uncertain future.

Apparently, this complex American reality has not permeated Ayuso's strategy. Her participation in the Mar-a-Lago event, albeit virtual, denotes an impulse that some analysts interpret as the 'Spanish inferiority complex' – a reminiscence of past episodes like the Azores photo with Aznar, Bush, and Blair. This phenomenon, often linked to a limited understanding of the international geopolitical context, can lead to an idealization of powers like the US without a critical evaluation of their complexities.

Before venturing into the global political arena, it would be prudent for Ayuso to pause her instinctive provincialism and delve into a deeper analysis of international news. If she did, she might reconsider statements such as viewing the United States 'with admiration for being the main beacon of the free world' or 'joyfully celebrating every step the United States takes forward in defense of Hispanidad.'

It is difficult to reconcile these assertions with the reality of a Trump who has tried to muzzle the media with multi-million dollar lawsuits; who instigated the Capitol assault, resulting in the deaths of police officers; who threatened to usurp Greenland; and whose policies have left Ukraine without crucial military aid, favoring figures like Putin. His administration was also marked by the 'personal Gestapo' of ICE, with detentions of five-year-old Hispanic children in schools and the imprisonment of immigrants hundreds of miles from their homes, in clear contradiction to the supposed 'defense of Hispanidad.' The list of systematic assaults on democracy and the rejection of the 2020 election results only adds to this record.

Furthermore, while Ayuso criticizes Pedro Sánchez's alleged corruption, Trump's record in this area is undeniable. An investigation by The New Yorker revealed that he and his family pocketed four billion dollars in one year of abuse of power. Trump neither hides nor denies these facts, and American voters are aware that while he lowers taxes for his wealthy donors, healthcare prices soar for ordinary people. While this might not be an ideological problem for Ayuso, ingratiating herself with such a polarizing and globally hated figure, and increasingly so in his own country, is a risky gamble for her own political ambitions.

Ekhbary News Agency